There is / There areThere Is / There Are

某個地方「有」什麼，用 There be

中文說「桌上有一本書」，很多人直覺寫成 The desk has a book，但英文說「某地方存在某東西」要用 There is / There are。be 動詞看後面第一個名詞：單數或不可數用 is，複數用 are。

• There is a book on the desk.桌上有一本書。

• There are thirty students in my class.我們班有三十個學生。

• There is some milk in the fridge.冰箱裡有一些牛奶。

There be 的各種句型

There is 可以縮寫成 There's，但 There are 通常不縮寫。

後面有兩樣東西：看最靠近的那一個

There be 後面接兩個名詞時，be 動詞跟著第一個（最靠近的）名詞變。問句和否定句裡，複數名詞前面常用 any。

• There is a pen and two erasers in my pencil case.我的鉛筆盒裡有一支筆和兩個橡皮擦。

• Are there any convenience stores near your home?你家附近有便利商店嗎？

• There were many people at the night market last night.昨晚夜市人很多。

There be 跟 have 的差別

have / has 是「某人擁有」，主詞是人或擁有者；There be 是「某地方存在」，後面常接地點。中文兩個都說「有」，英文要分清楚。

• I have a new bike.我有一台新腳踏車。

• There is a new bike in front of the house.房子前面有一台新腳踏車。

• Our school has a big library.我們學校有一間很大的圖書館。

常見錯誤

• ✗There have a cat under the table.
  ✓There is a cat under the table.中文「有」直翻成 have 是錯的，存在要用 There is。
• ✗There is three apples in the box.
  ✓There are three apples in the box.three apples 是複數，要用 are。
• ✗Is there any students in the classroom?
  ✓Are there any students in the classroom?students 是複數，問句要用 Are there。
• ✗There are a lot of water in the bottle.
  ✓There is a lot of water in the bottle.water 不可數，要用 is。
• ✗There was many cars on the road yesterday.
  ✓There were many cars on the road yesterday.many cars 是複數，過去式用 were。